Helen Walden

Helen Walden

Helen Walden is a prominent biochemist and structural biologist known for her significant contributions to the field of ubiquitin research. She is currently a professor at the University of Glasgow and a group leader at the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute.

Early Life and Education

Helen Walden was born in the United Kingdom. She pursued her undergraduate studies in biochemistry at the University of Oxford, where she developed a keen interest in protein structure and function. She later completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge, focusing on the structural biology of ubiquitin-related proteins.

Career

After completing her PhD, Walden undertook postdoctoral research at the Institute of Cancer Research in London. During this time, she worked on the structural and functional analysis of ubiquitin ligases, which are enzymes that play a crucial role in the ubiquitin-proteasome system.

In 2010, she joined the University of Dundee as a principal investigator, where she continued her research on ubiquitin and its role in cellular processes. Her work has provided significant insights into the mechanisms of ubiquitin signaling and its implications in cancer and other diseases.

Research Contributions

Helen Walden's research has primarily focused on the structural and functional aspects of ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins. She has made several groundbreaking discoveries, including the elucidation of the structure of various ubiquitin ligases and their substrates. Her work has advanced the understanding of how ubiquitin modifications regulate protein degradation, DNA repair, and other critical cellular processes.

Awards and Honors

Throughout her career, Walden has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to biochemistry and structural biology. These include the Lister Institute Research Prize and the Royal Society of Chemistry's Norman Heatley Award.

Personal Life

Helen Walden is married and has two children. She is an advocate for women in science and actively mentors young scientists in her field.

Selected Publications

• Walden, H. et al. (Year). Title of the publication. Journal Name. Volume(Issue), pages.
• Walden, H. et al. (Year). Title of the publication. Journal Name. Volume(Issue), pages.

See Also

• Ubiquitin
• Protein structure
• Cancer Research UK
• University of Glasgow